The Third Nintendo DS Game To Sell Over 5 Million In The U.S. Is…

There’s a reason major Nintendo games tend to drop in price very slowly, and every now and then, we see a reminder of why. Like this week, for instance.

Nintendo released Super Mario 64 DS eight whole years ago. This past week, the game crossed the 5 million mark in the U.S., making it the third Nintendo DS game in the region to do so, according to Nintendo of America.

The other two Nintendo DS games to cross the 5 million figure in the U.S. alone are New Super Mario Bros. (10.6 million) and Mario Kart DS (8.5 million).

2D Mario games are pretty fun too, but it is kind of a shame that Galaxy/Galaxy 2 hasn’t been quite as popular as the various New Super Mario Bros games. I know a lot of people prefer the more simplistic style of NSMB over the more complex Galaxy games.

Now with 2 new entries in the New Super Mario Bros series spaced so closely together (only 3 months apart) the series seems worn out, but here’s some perspective

New Super Mario Bros DS was the first 2D Mario game in 16-14 years the last 2 non-remakes being Super Mario World (SNES) and Super Mario Land 2 (GB). This was Mario’s glorious return to 2D, this game was a huge deal at the time.

New Super Mario Bros Wii was the first platforming Mario game to have multiplayer at the same time not the turn system they used before. The game was also released 3 years after NSMB DS so it didn’t feel like overkill, and 2D Mario still seemed fresh.

NSMB2 and NSMB U were made because they sell alot of units, and are inexpensive and quick to make. The 3DS needed a boost in hardware sales, and a major complaint of the 3DS was it launched without a Mario title so they didn’t want to repeat the with the Wii U. NSMB U is a way for Nintendo to make the Wii U launch less risky.

As for why 2D Mario sells better it has to do with nostalgia, and simplicity. For instance anyone can play a 2D Mario game, but I’ve had those same people attempt to play Galaxy and they have difficulty just moving around. The jump to 3D gaming had made things too complicated for many. The NSMB helps many people remember the old days of gaming when they were simplier and that’s why it sells more.

Now onto my personal opinion I like the 3D mario games more, and although I like the NSMB games I feel they play it too safe.

Mizu D

As the previous post from Scissors explained, it is much
more accessible and easier to play, and have multiplayers on consoles for up to 4 peoples.

And most importantly, for people who suffer motion sickness
for anything remotely 3D (unless you take Gravol or other type of medication),
you can’t go wrong with a 2D plat former. And I do know a lot of people who
suffer motion sickness in the majority of 3D games.

And there is one NSBM per console, so we won’t be seeing
NSBM until the next hardware is release in 5-6 years. By then, I do hope they
move to a newer formula.

malek86

Boy, in every store I go, this game is still sold at full price. That’s a lot of money for Nintendo.

In a way, it’s still OK for Nintendo to hold its mascot in high steem over all other franchises.

Now look at Capcom and Mega Man.

SantiagodelosSantos

But mario is still awesome.

Mrgrgr and Unacceptable World

Not all people though.^_^

Mizu D

The fun factor and value is still there. And unlike
other company, Nintendo tend to release a few major Mario plat forming games
per console (like 1 3D Mario games and 1 2D Mario games) and 1 Mario Kart game
per console too.

So suffice to said, if I am buying a Mario game, I am almost
certain to get some fun value of it at full price and knowing that the resell
value is high due to the demand. In my case, I prefer to keep it.

subsamuel01

I don’t think its Mario himself people would get tired of, its not like all his games are the same. Maybe games like New Super Mario Bros. since there’s like 5 variations of it. Mario Kart is another example but the game is so fun no matter how many times it gets remade.

Ricardo Guedes

i thought nintendogs sold +9 million in US;;

malek86

I imagine it’s not counted because each different version sold a lot less. Although I guess it should be counted, since it’s still the same game.

I’m still less likely to buy Nintendo games because they haven’t price dropped. I don’t even own Super Mario Galaxy because it took them too long to price drop it, and I’d really like to own it.

Mrgrgr and Unacceptable World

Well, or we can view it the other way here? If you bought the game and in the future you wanted to sell the game, the price will not drop so much?

Mizu D

Hence why i tend to buy Nintendo games at launch and wait for major 3rd party games to drop price (ie anything from Capcom, Ubisoft) especially with the non stop release of new games for any platform).

AlexanderPappas

That was 8 years ago? Geez DS is One old system I remember getting my DS like it was yesterday, and I still have my original DS as well.

Natat

8 years!? To think, that I was 14 when I first got my DS then… 8 wonderful years.

PreyMantis

8 years? I feel old now…

Mrgrgr and Unacceptable World

Man, i still remember when the first time i buy this game for my N64 lol. How time pass by here.T_T

MrRobbyM

8 years huh….suddenly depression.

TruSpindash

Time sure does fly, I remember this being my first DS game and freaking out about how amazing it was to have a portable console capable of 3d game play.

LustEnvy

Fuuuu– I’m old. I remember when the Super Mario Bros was new on the NES. ;____;

29 is starting to feel like 65.

ddh819

i remember when Donkey Kong was new and Mario was just the name of the guy in it.

Julien_N

Wasn’t it Jumpman instead?
The Mario name appeared in later games, didn’t it?